Friday, December 31, 2010

Ramdevra: An Amazing Holy Place of worship for all communities




Ramdevra is a village situated about 12 km to the north of Pokhran in Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan in India. The village is named after Baba Ramdevji, a Tanwar Rajput and a saint who took Samādhi in 1384 CE, at the age of 33 years. Bhagvan Ramdevji Maharaj took samadhi (conscious exit from the mortal body.) in 1459 AD. Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner constructed a temple around the samadhi in 1931 AD.

Near the village, there is a tank known as Ramsar tank which is believed to have been constructed by Baba Ramdev himself. A large step well, the Parcha Baori is also situated nearby.

A large fair known as Ramdevera Fair is held here from Bhado Sudi 2 to Bhadon Sudi 11 (Aug - Sept). It is attended by a large number of devotees who come in large groups from far and wide. Irrespective of their caste, creed or religious affiliations, these devotees throng the shrine dedicated to the saint. These groups organize night long singing of bhajans and kirtans to pay homage to Baba.

Baba Ramdevji ( V.S. 1409 - 1442 ) ( 1352 - 1385 AD) is a folk–deity of Rajasthan in India. He was a saint of the fourteenth century who devoted his life for the upliftment of downtrodden and poor people of the society, which were marginalized by Invaders. A temple was built around Ramdevji's final resting place by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner in 1931 AD. Ramdevji was a Tanwar Rajput however there is question mark on this identity, raised by many followers. While Hindus regard him as an incarnation of Lord Krishna (was himself an incarnation of Lord Vishnu), Muslims venerate him as Ramshah Pir or Ramapir or Hindwapir. He is said to have had miraculous powers, and his fame reached far and wide and was confirmed by Peers of Mecca.

The story, as derived from folklore, is thus. King Ajmal Tanwar was the king of Pokharan. His wife, Rani Mainade, was the daughter of the king of Jaisalmer. After becoming King of Pokhran, King Ajmalji had only three daughters, Lasa, Laxmi and Sugana. Once day the king was on a tour of his kingdom. It was monsoon, yet the kingdom had not received any rainfall. On his tour, the king met a few farmers who were on their way to their farms to sow seeds. On seeing the king, they began to return back to their homes. Surprised at this act, the king asked farmers the reason for their behaviour. When assured that no harm would come to them if they told the truth, the farmers told the king that they believed that seeing a barren king's face while on their way to their fields may cause their crops to fail, and therefore they wanted to return to their homes. King Ajmal was very sad on hearing this. Being a devotee of Shri Krishna, the king decided to go to the Lord's palace in Dwarika.

King Ajmal arrived at Dwarika and prayed for many days. Ultimately, in sheer disappointment, he asked Krishna's idol the reason for deserving such sorrow. The idol did not respond to the king's repeated queries. Angered and raged at this, the king threw a dried laddu at the head of the idol. The priest of the temple, considering the king to be mad, asked the king to go to the mystic Dwarika to speak to the Lord. The mystic Dwarika swallowed by the sea many centuries ago, lay at the bed of the Arabian sea. The fearless king dived into the sea to meet the Lord. Pleased at the king's dedication and faith, the Lord granted him a boon. The king asked for Lord Krishna to be born as his son. The Lord promised to take birth in the king's house. Soon thereafter, the royal couple began to have children.

Baba Ramdevji is considered to be an incarnation of Lord Krishna (who himself was incarnation of Lord Vishnu) .

As mentioned above, King Ajamal (Ajaishinh) married Queen Minaldevi, the daughter of Pamji Bhati of Chhahan Baru village. The childless king went to Dwarika and pled with the Lord about his wish to have child like him. They had two sons, Viramdev and the younger Ramdev. Baba Ramdev was born on Bhadava Shukla dooj in V.S. 1409 at a place called Pokharan. Ramdevji was a Tanwar (kardiya Rajput). He is considered to be the 72nd descendant of the Pandav King Arjun.

Muslims venerate Baba Ramdevji as 'Ramshah Pir'. He was said to have had miraculous powers, and his fame reached far and wide. Legend has it that five Pirs (saints) from Mecca came to test Ramdevji's powers. After being convinced of his abilities, they paid their homage to him. Since then he is venerated by Muslims also as Ram Shah Pir or Rama Peer.

In Rajasthan Meghwal community's chief deity is Baba Ramdevji who is worshiped during the vedwa punam (August - September). Meghwal religious leader Swami Gokuldas claims that Ramdev was himself a Meghwal in his 1982 book Meghwal Itehas, which constructs a history of the Meghwal community. However, it is a solitary claim made by the Meghwal community themselves and has no one else to back their claim. Mostly, all sources & Hindu community believes Ramdevji to have born in Tanwar Rajput Community.

Baba Ramdevji believed in the equality of all human beings, be they high or low, rich or poor. He helped the down-trodden by granting them their wishes. Baba Ramdev is often depicted on horseback. His worship crosses the Hindu-Muslim divide as well as the distinctions of caste. His followers include caste Hindus and the Meghwals in modern-day Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi and also in Sindh in Pakistan. Several Rajasthani fairs are held to commemorate him.

Baba Ramdevji took Samadhi on Bhadrapada Shukla Ekadashi in V.S. 1442 at the age of 33 years. Dalibai, his ardent follower from Meghwal community, is also buried near his grave.

One day, young Baba Ramdevji wanted to play with a toy horse. His father asked a toy maker to make one wooden horse, and for the purpose, gave him sandalwood and new cloth. The toy maker, however, stole most of the new cloth for his wife, and made the wodden horse from a piece of old cloth, with only a cover from new cloth. When Baba Ramdev sat on the horse it began to fly and disappeared into the sky along with the child. Baba Ramdev’s parents got angry with the toy maker and imprisoned him. Shortly afterward, Ramdev came back along with the horse and accused the toy maker of cheating. The toy maker confessed his crime and begged for forgiveness. Baba Ramdevji forgave him and accepted the horse. Wooden toy horses covered with cloth are among the most popular offerings at the temple dedicated to him.

24 Banis” are considered as famous literature composed by Ramdevji. Many poets and followers like Harji Bhati, Raja Mansinh, Likhmauji Mali, Vijoji Sani, Hiranand Mali, Devshi Mali and Rani Rupande had composed Falk lores on Baba Ramdevji which are still sung by his followers.



Apart from Rajasthan, Baba Ramdevji or Ram Dev Pir has a strong Hindu following in Kathiawar, Gujarat. There are many temples dedicated to him. People from all stages of society worship him. A mystical festival, called Mandap, is also held in villages across Kathiawar to worship him. The whole affair is funded by the villagers. The highlight of the festival is an event in which a long (almost 60 feet or more in height) wooden log, called the Sthambh, is decorated and laid on the ground with a loose base, with eight ropes tied to it from eight directions. Several rites and rituals are performed for about a month. At a certain time and date, the Sthambh stands up. Very mysteriously and strangely, the Sthambh stands up on its own, without any support. The eight ropes are loosely tied in eight nails that are driven in the ground. Lacks of devotees flock this mandap to have a darshan of the event. The Sthambh stand erect for exactly a day, and returns back to its position 24 hours later in the same fashion. It is believed that RamDev Pir himself appears in the Sthambh.

Ramdev Pir Jayanti i.e. the Birth date of Baba Ramdevji is celebrated every year all over India by devotees of Ramdevji with zeal & festivities. It falls on Beej (2nd Day) of Shukla paksha of Bhadrapada month of Hindu calendar. In Rajasthan, this day is observed as a public holiday and a fair is held at Ramdevra temple, where lakhs of devotees both Hindu & Muslim take part and pay their homage to Samadhi at main temple.

Ramdevji is believed to be born on above day in Vikram Samvant 1409 ( i.e. 1352 AD) and taken Samadhi on 11th day (Ekadashi) of Shukla paksha of Bhadrapada month of Hindu calendar of Vikram Samvant 1442 (i.e. 1385 AD)
src:wikipedia
Bookmark and Share

Dilwara, a sacred pilgrimage place of the Jains, the most beautiful Jain pilgrimage sites in the world




The Jain Dilwara temples of India are located about 2½ kilometers from Mount Abu, Rajasthan's only hill station. These temples built by Chalukya between the 11th and 13th centuries AD are world famous for their stunning use of marble. The five legendary marble temples of Dilwara are a sacred pilgrimage place of the Jains. Some consider them to be one of the most beautiful Jain pilgrimage sites in the world. The marble temples have an opulent entranceway, the simplicity in architecture reflecting Jain values like honesty and frugality. The temples are in the midst of a range of forested hills. A high wall shrouds the temple complex.

Although the Jains built some beautiful temples at other places in Rajasthan, some believe that none come close to these in terms of architectural perfection. The ornamental detail spreading over the minutely carved ceilings, doorways, pillars and panels is simply marvellous.

For the people who come to perform puja here, there are facilities to bathe and get ready. The facilities use passive solar power to heat up the water for bathing and other things. Guided tour hours for tourists are posted outside the temple. You might see occasional monkeys looking for food outside the temple area.

There are 5 temples in all, each with its own unique identity. Each is named after the small

village in which it is located. These are:

Vimal Vasahi (Shri Adi Nathji temple) dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar lord Rishabh.

Luna Vasahi (Shri Neminathji temple) dedicated to the 22nd Jain Tirthankar lord Neminatha.

Pithalhar (Shri Rishabha Devji temple) dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankar lord Rishabh.

Khartar Vasahi (Shri Parshva Nathji temple) dedicated to the 23rd Jain Tirthankar lord Parshva.

Mahavir Swami (Shri Mahavir Swamiji temple) dedicated to the last Jain Tirthankar lord

Mahavir. The most famous of these are the Vimal Vasahi and Luna Vasahi temples.

Vimal Vasahi Temple

This temple carved entirely out of white marble was built in 1021 by Vimal Shah, a minister of Bhimidev I, the Chalukya King (Solanki Maharaja) of Gujarat. The temple is dedicated to the first Jain Tirthankara (teacher or guide), Adinath. The temple stands in an open courtyard surrounded by a corridor, which has numerous cells containing smaller idols of the Tirthankaras. The richly carved corridors, pillars, arches, and 'mandaps' or porticoes of the temple are simply amazing. The ceilings feature engraved designs of lotus-buds, petals, flowers and scenes from Jain and Hindu mythology.

The Rang manda is a grand hall supported by 12 decorated pillars and nicely carved out arches with a breathtaking central dome. On the pillars are carved female figurines playing musical instruments and 16 Vidhyadevis, or the goddesses of knowledge, each one holding her own symbol.

The Navchowki is a collection of nine rectangular ceilings, each one containing beautiful carvings of different designs supported on ornate pillars. The Gudh mandap is a simple hall once you step inside its heavily decorated doorway. Installed here is the idol of Adi Nath or Lord Rishabdev, as he is also known. The mandap is meant for 'Arti' to the deity. The Hastishala (Elephant Cell) was constructed by Prithvipal, a descendant of Vimal Shah in 1147-49 and features a row of elephants in sculpture.



Luna Vasahi (Shri Nemi Nathji temple)

The Luna Vashi temple is dedicated to the 22nd Jain Tirthankara Shri Neminathji. This magnificent temple was built in 1230 by two Porwad brothers - Vastupal and Tejpal - both ministers of a Virdhaval, the Vaghela ruler of Gujarat. The temple built in memory of their late brother Luna was designed after the Vimal Vashi temple. The main hall or Rang mandap features a central dome from which hangs a big ornamental pendent featuring elaborate carving. Arranged in a circular band are 72 figures of Tirthankars in sitting posture and just below this band are 360 small figures of Jain monks in another circular band. The Hathishala or elephant cell features 10 beautiful marble elephants neatly polished and realistically modelled.

The Navchowki features some of the most magnificent and delicate marble stone cutting work of the temple. Each of the nine ceilings here seems to exceed the others in beauty and grace. The Gudh mandap features a black marble idol of the 22nd Jain Tirthankar Neminatha. The Kirthi Stambha is a big black stone pillar that stands on the left side of the temple. The pillar was constructed by Maharana Kumbha of Mewar. The remaining three temples of Dilwara are smaller but just as elegant as the other two.

Pittalhar Temple

This temple was built by Bhima Shah, a minister of Sultan Begada of Ahmedabad. A massive metal statue of first Jain Tirthankara Rishabha Dev (Adinath), cast in five metals, is installed in the temple. The main metal used in this statue is 'Pital' (brass), hence the name 'Pittalhar'. The Shrine consists of a main Garbhagriha, Gudh mandap and Navchowki. It seems that the construction of Rangmandap and the corridor was left unfinished. The old mutilated idol was replaced and installed in 1468-69 AD weighing 108 maunds (about 40 quintals or four metric tons) according to the inscription on it. The image was cast by an artist 'Deta' which is 8 ft (2.4 m). high, 5.5 ft (1.7 m). broad and the figure is 41 inches (1,000 mm) in height. In Gudh Mandap on one side, a big marble Panch-Tirthi sculpture of Adinath is installed.

Parshvanatha Temple

his temple, dedicated to 23rd Jain Tirthankar Lord Parshvanath was built by Mandlik and his family in 1458-59 It consists of a three storied building, the tallest of all the shrines at Dilwara. On all the four faces of the sanctum on the ground floor are four big mandaps. The outer walls of the sanctum comprise beautiful sculptures in gray sandstone, depicting Dikpals, Vidhyadevis, Yakshinis, Shalabhanjikas and other decorative sculptures comparable to the ones in Khajuraho and Konarak.

Mahavir Swami Temple

This is a small structure constructed in 1582 and dedicated to the 24th Jain Tirthankara, Lord Mahaveer. There are pictures on the upper walls of the porch painted in 1764 by the artists of Sirohi.
src:wikipedia
Bookmark and Share

Thursday, December 30, 2010

Ranakpur: widely known for its marble Jain temple and for a much older Sun Temple


Ranakpur is a village located in Desuri tehsil near Sadri town in the Pali district of Rajasthan in western India. It is located between Jodhpur and Udaipur, in a valley on the western side of the Aravalli Range. Ranakpur is easily accessed by road from Udaipur.

Ranakpur is widely known for its marble Jain temple, and for a much older Sun Temple which lies opposite the former.

Architecture

Light colored marble has been used for the construction of this grand temple which occupies an area of approximately 60 x 62 meters. The temple, with its distinctive domes, shikhara, turrets and cupolas rises majestically from the slope of a hill. Over 1444 marble pillars, carved in exquisite detail, support the temple. The pillars are all differently carved and no two pillars are the same. It is also said that it is impossible to count the pillars. Also all the statues face one or the other statue. There is one beautiful carving made out of a single marble rock where there 108 heads of snakes and numerous tails. One cannot find the end of the tails. The image faces all four cardinal directions. In the axis of the main entrance, on the western side, is the largest image.

The temple is designed as chaumukha—with four faces. The construction of the temple and quadrupled image symbolize the Tirthankara's conquest of the four cardinal directions and hence the cosmos. Shri Chintamani Parshvanath Temple Bagol only one to a special place in the historic jain temples of world in Rajasthan. renovated Golden temple, the only known places around the world Bagol there Shri Chintamani Parshvanath God's amazing sculpture.

History

The dating of this temple is controversial but it is largely considered to be anywhere between the late 14th to mid-15th centuries. Inspired by a dream of a celestial vehicle, Dhanna Shah, a Porwad, is said to have commissioned it, under the patronage of Rana Kumbha, then ruler of Mewar. The architect who oversaw the project is said to have been named Deepaka. There is an inscription on a pillar near the main shrine stating that in 1439 Deepaka, an architect, constructed the temple at the direction of Dharanka, a devoted Jain.

By Train: The nearest station is Falna

By Air: The nearest airport is Udaipur

By road: Distances

Falna 28km approximately 30 mins

Udaipur 80km approximately 2 hours

Jodhpur 150km approximately 4 hrs

Jaipur 370 km approximately 6 hrs
src:wikipedia
Bookmark and Share

Mount Abu: The highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan & The world headquarters of the Brahma Kumari's the World Spiritual University


Mount Abu is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan state in western India. It is located in Sirohi district. Mount Abu is 58 km from Palanpur (Gujarat). The mountain forms a distinct rocky plateau 22 km long by 9 km wide. The highest peak on the mountain is Guru Shikhar, at 1722 meters above sea level. It is referred to as 'an oasis in the desert', as its heights are home to rivers, lakes, waterfalls and evergreen forests. The ancient name of Mount Abu is "Arbudaanchal"

The Gurjars and Arbuda Mountain
The Arbuda Mountains (Mount Abu) region is said to be original abode of the famous Gurjaras.The association of the Gurjars with the mountain is noticed in many inscriptions and epigraphs including Tilakamanjari of Dhanpala. These Gurjars (Gujars or Gujjars) migrated from Arbuda mountain region and as early as sixth century A.D, they set up one or more principalities in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Almost all or a larger part of Rajasthan and Gujarat had been known as Gurjaratra (country ruled or protected by the Gurjars) or Gurjarabhumi (land of the Gurjars) for centuries prior to Mughal period.

The town of Mount Abu, the only hill station in Rajasthan, is located at an elevation of 1220 meters. It has been a popular retreat from the heat of Rajasthan and neighbouring Gujarat for centuries. The Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1960 and covers 290 km² of the mountain.

Mount Abu is home to a number of Jain temples. The Dilwara Temples are a complex of temples, carved of white marble, that were built between the 11th and 13th centuries AD. The oldest of these is the Vimal Vasahi temple, built in 1031 AD by Vimal Shah and dedicated to the first of the Jain Tirthankaras. The Lun Vasahi Temple were built in 1231 AD by the brothers Vastupal and Tejpal, who belonged to the Porwal Jain community. They were ministers of Raja Vir Dhawal, a local ruler of Gujarat.

The Achalgarh fort, built in the 14th century by Rana Kumbha of Mewar, stands nearby. It encloses several beautiful Jain temples, including the Achaleswar Mahadev Temple (1412) and the Kantinath Temple.


Nakki Lake is another popular visitor attraction of Mount Abu. There is the Toad Rock on a hill near the lake. Raghunath Temple and Maharaja Jaipur Palace are also on hills near Nakki Lake.

The mountain is also home to several Hindu temples, including the Adhar Devi Temple, carved out of solid rock; the Shri Raghunathji Temple; and a shrine and temple to Dattatreya built atop the Guru Shikhar peak. The world headquarters of the Brahma Kumari order of lady renunciates is also located here, as is the World Spiritual University of the same denomination. The Durga temple, Ambika Mata Temple lies in a cleft of rock in Jagat, just outside of Mount Abu.

The nearest railway station is at Abu Road, in the lowlands 27 km southeast of Mount Abu town. The station is on the main Indian Railways line between Delhi,Palanpur and Ahmedabad. It has regular trains for Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur, Ujjain, Delhi, Mumbai, Channai,Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune and weekly trains from Trivandrum(kochu veli) There are many hotels and guest houses which ranges for all budgets.

src:wikipedia
Bookmark and Share

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Amazing Pictures of Tamilnadu

Region: South Asia

Area Total: 3,287,240 km2
Coast Line: Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal

Capital: New Delhi

*TAMIL NADU*

Capital: Chennai


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

lion-well (simhakeni)


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Aravashvara Temple


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Ashram Guru-Maharishi


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Kalyana-Mandapa


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Kalyana-Mandapa


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Brihadisvara Temple


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

One-of-five-Rathas-Mahabalipuram.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

One-of-five-Rathas-Mahabalipuram


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Krishna's Butter Ball, Mahabalipuram


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Gopuram


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Highest point of Raja Gopuram-Royal Tower.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Tanjore (Thanjavur) Brihadisvara Temple.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Details of a temple.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Tiruvannamalai-Arunachaleshvara Temple.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Varaha Mandapam with reliefs.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Temple in Mylapore, Chennai.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com
src:kutegroup.com

Bookmark and Share

Region: South Asia

Area Total: 3,287,240 km2
Coast Line: Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal

Capital: New Delhi

*TAMIL NADU*

Capital: Chennai


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

lion-well (simhakeni)


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Aravashvara Temple


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Ashram Guru-Maharishi


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Kalyana-Mandapa


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Kalyana-Mandapa


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Brihadisvara Temple


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

One-of-five-Rathas-Mahabalipuram.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

One-of-five-Rathas-Mahabalipuram


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Krishna's Butter Ball, Mahabalipuram


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Gopuram


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Highest point of Raja Gopuram-Royal Tower.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Tanjore (Thanjavur) Brihadisvara Temple.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Details of a temple.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Tiruvannamalai-Arunachaleshvara Temple.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Varaha Mandapam with reliefs.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com

Temple in Mylapore, Chennai.


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com


www.kute-group.blogspot.com
src:kutegroup.com

Bookmark and Share
Related Posts with Thumbnails